“WE have just received a small consignment of Italian immigrants (about seventy in number), who have been induced to come to Queensland partly to engage in wine-growing.” [“OUR BRISBANE LETTER.” The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954) 27 June 1877: 7. Web. 30 Oct 2016 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28398035>.]
The manifest of the ‘Indus’ records this small consignment of Italians under the heading cargo. On board for the journey from Gravesend in England to Rockhampton in Queensland were Guglielmo (William) Cagnacci (age 38), his wife Carlotta (Charlotte) Albanasi (age 47 recorded as 39) and their daughter Maria (Mary) (age 13).
The story of William, Carlotta and Mary begins with the arrival of the Indus in Rockhampton (Keppel Bay) on 2 June 1877. Their story is one of things not always being what they seem: William and Carlotta did not become the ancestors of later generations of Australians, wine-growing was not partly engaged in by William who graduated from the University of Pisa with a degree in dentistry, and Mary has the greater role in the family history — but who was she? Yet we are fortunate the story had not already finished.
AN EMIGRANT SHIP IN DANGER.
During a storm encountered by the Indus on her voyage, the railway iron (reports the Rockhampton Argus) shifted, when the ship was rolling, from side to side, from five or six feet. Active measures were obliged to be adopted in order to prevent what threatened to be a very serious mishap. A large quantity of other cargo was shifted and thrown in between the iron and the side of the vessel, so as to prevent the listing which, had it not been arrested, would inevitably have ended in some hundreds of people going with the ship to the bottom. There are two subjects connected with the above which calls for censure; the first, the bad stowing of the iron, which ought to have been so fixed that it could not have shifted as the vessel rolled; and the second, the loading an immigrant vessel with railway iron, which ought not, in our opinion, to be allowed under any circumstances.
“An Emigrant Ship in Danger.” Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 – 1931) 15 June 1877: 3. Web. 3 Nov 2016 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108197052>
The ship was saved and so our story continues, but the Indus did not arrive in Australia with its cargo of Italians without any tragedy.
The Rockhampton Argus of June 4 says : — “A romantic but sad incident occurred on board the Indus, after her arrival at Keppel Bay, which proves that ‘all for love’ or the ‘world well lost’ is still played on the stage of life. It appears from what we can gather that there were among the immigants on board the Indus two cousins, one a young man named Michael Devoi, aged 25, and the other a girl about 19. The former throughout the voyage was incessant in his attentions to the latter, and gave every proof of being deeply attached to her. She, however, did not return his affection, save in a cousinly way, and openly favoured another admirer. On Thursday night last, about 9 o’clock, the vessel was lying at her anchorage, and the passengers were on deck amusing themselves by dancing and singing, telling yarns, and talking ovor old times, and among them was young Devoi. From some cause, it is now hardly possible to learn what, Devoi went up to one of his female shipmates, gave her his watch and chain, pocket book, and the keys of his chest, and asked her to deliver them to his cousin, and to tell her, at the same time, that she would never see him again. Although the articles and the message were duly declined, no notice was taken of the matter, until, at about 11 o’clock, when it was reported to the doctor that Devoi was missing. All hands were directly, mustered, and the vessel thoroughly searched; but the missing man could not be found, and nothing has been seen of him since. This is the tale as it was told to us, but the captain is somewhat doubtful as to its truth, and entertains an idea that the young fellow is somewhere stowed away in the vessel. Another story is that he was melancholy throughout the voyage, and appeared to be very much cut up at finding his cousin receiving attention from another. One of the Italian immigrants states that he saw Devoi sitting on the anchor a little after nine o’clock, and that he shortly afterward heard a splash, as if something heavy had fallen into the water. Devoi and his cousin were remittance passengers and were going to a station on the Aramac.
“A Sad Story.” Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW : 1876 – 1954) 22 June 1877: 3. Web. 3 Nov 2016 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136095683>
It is probable that William and Charlotte became aware of the apparent suicide. Death by natural causes, murder and even a knife attack all appear on their personal stage of life. Did they see Mr. Devoi’s suicide as an omen that marked their arrival in a new country to make a new life?
Mr. Devoi’s suicide is not just a sad incident without real connection to our story, but a telling contrast to events that follow. Mr Devoi gave up more than a job in the Barcaldine region of Queensland. He threw away a future and the challenges and opportunities that future held. Our Italian immigrants were not dissuaded by the Australian landscapes that are so different to Tuscany or the challenges of British Empire colonies slowly becoming a new nation.
Guglielmo (William) Cagnacci
William Cagnacci was born in Florence Italy in 1839 to Antonio Cagnacci and Angelina Benedeli. At the age of 22 years in 1862 he married Carlotta Albanasi who was ten years older. He graduated from the University of Pisa with a degree in dentistry in 1874. Three years later, in June 1877, the arrival in Australia of the Cagnacci family is recorded in a local newspaper as, “Cognacci : Guglidmo 38, Carlotta 39, Maria 13 (sic)”, “IMMIGRANTS FOR ROCKHAMPTON.” Rockhampton Bulletin (Qld. : 1871 – 1878) 11 May 1877: 2. Web. 8 Nov 2016 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51909632>.
William was naturalised in Brisbane on 12 December 1877 and resided in the Brisbane region until his death in February 1896 aged 56–57 years.
Although the initial reason for the Italians coming to Australia appears to be to take up wine growing, William opened a dentistry practice in July 1887, though doesn’t seem to have succeeded. In 1887 he is recorded as owner and occupier of land described as Portion 44 (80 acres) in the Parish of Bunya. In October 1894 he is described as a fish hawker when two of his children are enrolled at the Breakfast Creek State School. A few birth and marriage certificates are the only known records of his occupation as a medical practitioner other than this advertisement.
SIGNOR COGNACCI, Surgeon-Dentist, by Diploma, from the Royal University of Pisa, begs to announce that he has Commenced the Practice of his Profession at Mr. Carmichael’s, Queen street, where he may be Consulted daily. Signor C. has devoted special attention to the numerous disorders connected with dentition in Children, to giving a proper direction to their teeth, and remedying defects in form, structure or position, which may already exist. He is au courant of all the latest inventions in Dental Surgery, and furnished with the most approved materials and instruments now used in the great capitals of Europe. Artificial Teeth free from all the ordinary inconveniences. Teeth Stopped which other Dentists condemn. FEES MODERATE.
“Classified Advertising” The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933) 21 July 1877: 1. Web. 7 Dec 2016 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1365196>
William appears to have fathered nine children, none with his wife Carlotta Albanasi. Six children survived beyond infancy.
The first confirmed child was born in Sofala in April 1881 to William and Charlotte Barrett when he was 42 years old and the mother 21 years old. Sofala was a gold rush town from 1851, yet panning alluvial gold had been replaced by reef mining by the time William had travelled there.
Perhaps William sought work in the mines at Sofala? Any employment in Sofala was short lived as the death of the child reveals.
Records show that Sarah Cagnacci was born on 21 April 1881 and Augustine Cagnacci died seven months later on 17 December 1881 at the age of seven months at Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill Queensland. No records of Sarah’s death and Augustina’s birth have yet been found.
The timing of Augustina’s and Sarah’s births, given that they share the same birthplace and timing of birth suggests they are the same person, although a premature birth alters this conclusion. Augustina must have been born in April or no later than May 1881 to die at 7 months old in December. The absence of a record of Augustina’s birth suggests the children are not twins. Guglielmo must have travelled to Sofala and returned to Brisbane with mother and child.
Augustina was buried on 20 Dec 1881 at the Toowong Cemetery Queensland (Portion 7 Section 66 Grave 2).
Charlotte Barrett and the infant Sarah (Augustina) must have lived, at least for a short while, in the same house as William and his wife Charlotte Albanasi. This would not be the first multi-family household Charlotte would experience.
Carlotta (Charlotte) Albanasi
Carlotta arrived in Australia in 1877 when 47 years old, though her age is recorded as 39. In 1878 Carlotta is listed in the Post Office Directory as a dressmaker at Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill Queensland. She died in 1890 aged 60.
The thirteen years Carlotta had with her husband in Australia may not have been the easiest. Carlotta’s role as William’s wife was probably complicated and diminished by the presence of another ‘wife’ and her children to William.
The first of the other wives was Charlotte Barrett. The second wife probably came as more of a shock, the young girl Maria Cagnacci who arrived in Australia with her parents William and Carlotta — her real name was Angelina Sgapponi.